Anger at new Tunisian government prompts violent clashes

Tunisian police have used teargas to break up angry protests against the
country's new coalition government.

7:46AM GMT 19 Jan 2011

Police were forced to use tear gas and baton charges to break up multiple protests in Tunis city centre. Outside the capital, official authority disintegrated as provincial towns were swept by rampaging mobs.

Three ministers from the union-linked UGTT party withdrew from the interim administration, which was set up on Monday night to hold the fort until elections are held in 60 days. Mustafa Ben Jaafar, the health minister from the Labour party, also quit and Ettajdid, the third opposition movement, threatened to join the pull out. All three parties demanded the dissolution of the ruling Democratic Constitutional Rally party (RCD).

Mohamed Ghannouchi, the prime minister and Fouad Mebazaa, the president, quit the RCD on Tuesday night in a last ditch move to separate the party and government in response to the exodus of opposition figures. The party also took the symbolic step of expelling Mr Ben Ali and six cronies. Rumours that Mr Ghannouchi, a technocrat, had resigned had circulated earlier in the day and had emboldened demonstrators.